Asheville City Council has recently revived a “discussion” topic that was voted down seven years ago: building a racetrack on 51-acres of land adjoining the northern border of Westfeldt Park on Old Fanning Bridge Road, adjacent to the Asheville Regional Airport and directly in the French Broad River basin. What was a bad idea seven years ago is still a bad idea today.
My husband and I live in Limestone Township in Fletcher. For six years, I have been an employee and member of Unity Center of Christianity on Old Fanning Bridge Road in Henderson County, within one mile of the proposed racetrack site.
This site lies in a “regulated floodway.” Only two years ago, the French Broad River flooded Old Fanning Bridge Road for days after two hurricanes hit WNC. The river water actually seeped onto Highway 280. This also happened less than a decade before, so the argument of “century” floods does not hold water with me. In future floods, stored fuel, supplies, oil and grease from a racetrack would end up detrimentally impacting the river.
This area is habitat for deer, red-tail hawks, flocks of wild turkey and more. Building a track would destroy these habitats as well as the bucolic environment of Henderson County’s Westfeldt Park. River-based activities would be degraded.
Despite the arguments about “quieter mufflers,” noise pollution—including loudspeakers and race fans—would significantly impact residents in surrounding developments. At least one developer has already stopped the sale of lots and homes since receiving word of this racetrack discussion. Sunday services and many other church events at Unity Center would also be disrupted.
According to Council member Jan Davis, 4,000 to 5,000 race fans attended the former West Asheville racetrack each weekend. That is an estimated 2,500 cars, which would impose significant traffic congestion and problems in a corridor that is already problematic: the I-26/Airport Road/Highway 25 area and access to Fanning Bridge and Old Fanning Bridge roads. Have you been on Highway 280 during the 10 days of Mountain Fair traffic?
Seven years ago, the FAA sternly reminded Asheville that FAA money purchased the land, and that land needs to be reserved for possible expansion of the airport. To look at selling or leasing this land for a racetrack is shortsighted. What will the airport do for future expansion?
Now, here’s a creative idea for discussion: The land could be used as a park system (enlarging the park-like setting next to Westfeldt Park) and be designed in such a way that could accommodate such future airport needs as approach lights. Asheville could be a good neighbor to Fletcher, Mills River and Hendersonville. Establish contiguous-path systems for walking, running and bicycling, and provide for outdoor concerts, picnic areas, exercise areas, gardens, historical preservation and education, and habitat conservation. Creating a multi-use, multi-generational, multi-community park could be a very popular thing to do.
— Jana E. Weed
Fletcher
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